Floor cleaning tool with a surrounding capture sheet

Abstract

A floor cleaning tool is disclosed that provides for an improved method of gathering and picking up debris from the floor. In one embodiment, the floor cleaning tool has a handle, a wiping body wiping body comprised of a solid and continuous material connected at one end to the handle and a capture sheet covering the wiping body. The wiping body includes a first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side wherein a length and width of the wiping body are each at least five times larger than a thickness between the first wiping side and second wiping side. The capture sheet covers the wiping body by wrapping continuously around the first wiping side and second wiping side. In one embodiment, the capture sheet includes a tacky surface outwardly facing from the wiping body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cleaning implement comprising:
 a handle; 
 a wiping body connected at one end to the handle, wherein the wiping body includes a first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side, wherein a length and width of the wiping body are each at least five times larger than a thickness between the first wiping side and second wiping side; 
 a capture sheet comprising a tacky surface, the capture sheet being sized and shaped to cover the wiping body by wrapping continuously around the first wiping side and second wiping side such that each of the first and second wiping sides are entirely covered by the capture sheet, wherein the tacky surface of the capture sheet is outwardly facing from the wiping body. 
 wherein the wiping body defines a free end opposite the handle, the free end extending between the first and second wiping sides, and further wherein the capture sheet wraps continuously around the first wiping side, the free end, and the second wiping side. 
 
     
     
       2. The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the wiping body comprises a flexible sponge block. 
     
     
       3. The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the wiping body can flex such that the first wiping side and second wiping side are parallel with the surface being cleaned. 
     
     
       4. The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the wiping body is a solid, continuous, and flexible material. 
     
     
       5. The cleaning implement of  claim 4 , wherein the length and width of the wiping body are at least 10 times larger than the thickness between the first wiping side and second wiping side. 
     
     
       6. The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment mechanism for securing the capture sheet when wrapped around the wiping body, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to pinch the capture sheet. 
     
     
       7. The cleaning implement of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a series of securing grips formed by a backing connecting the wiping body to the handle, and further wherein the capture sheet is attachable to the securing grips at any location along a length of the capture sheet. 
     
     
       8. The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the capture sheet includes a strip of adhesive arranged at an end of the wiping body opposite the handle and between the first and second wiping sides. 
     
     
       9. The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the capture sheet is removably wrapped around the first wiping side, the free end, and the second wiping side. 
     
     
       10. The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a backing and wherein the wiping body is connected to the backing along the entire width of the end of the wiping body. 
     
     
       11. The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the wiping body is configured to flex along the planar surfaces of the first and second wiping sides. 
     
     
       12. A cleaning implement comprising:
 a handle; 
 a wiping body connected at one end to the handle, wherein the wiping body includes a first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side, wherein a length and width of the wiping body are each at least five times larger than a thickness between the first wiping side and second wiping side; 
 a capture sheet comprising a tacky surface, the capture sheet being sized and shaped to cover the wiping body by wrapping continuously around the first wiping side and second wiping side such that each of the first and second wiping sides are entirely covered by the capture sheet, wherein the tacky surface of the capture sheet is outwardly facing from the wiping body; and 
 an attachment mechanism for securing the capture sheet when wrapped around the wiping body, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to pinch the capture sheet. 
 
     
     
       13. The cleaning implement of  claim 12 , wherein the wiping body is a solid, continuous, and flexible material. 
     
     
       14. The cleaning implement of  claim 12 , wherein the length and width of the wiping body are at least 10 times larger than the thickness between the first wiping side and second wiping side. 
     
     
       15. The cleaning implement of  claim 12 , wherein the handle includes a backing and wherein the wiping body is connected to the backing along the entire width of the end of the wiping body. 
     
     
       16. A cleaning implement comprising:
 a handle; 
 a wiping body connected at one end to the handle, wherein the wiping body includes a, first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side, wherein a length and width of the wiping body are each at least five times larger than a thickness between the first wiping side and second wiping side; 
 a capture sheet comprising a tacky surface, the capture sheet being sized and shaped to cover the wiping body by wrapping continuously around the first wiping side and second wiping side such that each of the first and second wiping sides are entirely covered by the capture sheet, wherein the tacky surface of the capture sheet is outwardly facing from the wiping body; 
 wherein the handle includes a backing and wherein the wiping body is connected to the backing along the entire width of the end of the wiping body. 
 
     
     
       17. The cleaning implement of  claim 16 , wherein the wiping body is a solid, continuous, and flexible material. 
     
     
       18. The cleaning implement of  claim 16 , wherein the length and width of the wiping body are at least 10 times larger than the thickness between the first wiping side and second, wiping side.